CENTROPYGE LORICULUS - (GUNTHER, 1874)
0 Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Acanthuriformes (Order) > Pomacanthidae (Family) > Centropyge (Genus)
Poisson-ange doré, Poisson-ange nain flamme, Poisson-ange nain flamboyant, Flame angelfish, Japanese pygmy angelfish, Flaming angelfish, Pez ángel llama, Pez ángel enano japonés, Feuer-Zwergkaiser, Flammen-Zwergkaiserfisch, Flammen-Herzogfisch, 冑刺尻鱼, فرشته ماهی شعله,
Synonymes
Centropyge flammeus (Woods & Schultz, 1953)
Centropyge loricula (Günther, 1874)
Holacanthus loriculus (Günther, 1874)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16-18 (usually: 17); Scales in longitudinal series from upper edge of gill opening to base of caudal fin: 44-47. Max. length: 15.0 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 60 m, usually: 15 - 60 m.
Color
A brilliant orange fish with a large elongate black blotch behind the pectoral fin base, a series of black bars on the sides, and alternating purplish-blue and black streaks on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins that are more pronounced in males.
Etymology
Centropyge: from Greek, kentron = sting + from Greek, pyge = rump, buttocks, tail. Referring to his three anal fin spines.
loriculus: from Malay, lori = parrot (bird) + from Latin suffix, -culus or -ulus = added to a noun to form a diminutive of that noun. Source of the hanging parrot genus Loriculus. Or from Latin lorica = breastplate or corset. In reference to the black vertical bars on body, like the laces of a corset. Or from Latin, lorum = strap + from Latin dimutive, culus = small straps. In reference to the short vertical bands on the body.
Original description: Holacanthus loriculus Günther, 1874 - Type locality: Society Islands, French Polynesia, South Pacific.
Distribution
Western and central Pacific: Philippines and Papua New Guinea, east to Hawaiian Islands, Line Islands and to Marcesas Islands and Pitcairn Group, south to New Caledonia, Tonga and Gambier Islands.
Biology
Found in clear lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone. Benthopelagic. Secretive and stays near shelter. Has been reared in captivity. Feeds on algae. Forms harems of 3-7 individuals. Frequently exported through the aquarium trade.
Poisson-ange doré, Poisson-ange nain flamme, Poisson-ange nain flamboyant, Flame angelfish, Japanese pygmy angelfish, Flaming angelfish, Pez ángel llama, Pez ángel enano japonés, Feuer-Zwergkaiser, Flammen-Zwergkaiserfisch, Flammen-Herzogfisch, 冑刺尻鱼, فرشته ماهی شعله,
Synonymes
Centropyge flammeus (Woods & Schultz, 1953)
Centropyge loricula (Günther, 1874)
Holacanthus loriculus (Günther, 1874)
-------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16-18 (usually: 17); Scales in longitudinal series from upper edge of gill opening to base of caudal fin: 44-47. Max. length: 15.0 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 60 m, usually: 15 - 60 m.
Color
A brilliant orange fish with a large elongate black blotch behind the pectoral fin base, a series of black bars on the sides, and alternating purplish-blue and black streaks on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins that are more pronounced in males.
Etymology
Centropyge: from Greek, kentron = sting + from Greek, pyge = rump, buttocks, tail. Referring to his three anal fin spines.
loriculus: from Malay, lori = parrot (bird) + from Latin suffix, -culus or -ulus = added to a noun to form a diminutive of that noun. Source of the hanging parrot genus Loriculus. Or from Latin lorica = breastplate or corset. In reference to the black vertical bars on body, like the laces of a corset. Or from Latin, lorum = strap + from Latin dimutive, culus = small straps. In reference to the short vertical bands on the body.
Original description: Holacanthus loriculus Günther, 1874 - Type locality: Society Islands, French Polynesia, South Pacific.
Distribution
Western and central Pacific: Philippines and Papua New Guinea, east to Hawaiian Islands, Line Islands and to Marcesas Islands and Pitcairn Group, south to New Caledonia, Tonga and Gambier Islands.
Biology
Found in clear lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone. Benthopelagic. Secretive and stays near shelter. Has been reared in captivity. Feeds on algae. Forms harems of 3-7 individuals. Frequently exported through the aquarium trade.
Similar species
Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Centropyge shepardi (Randall & Yasuda, 1979) - Reported from Western Pacific: known only from the Mariana and Ogasawara Islands (Japan).
Last update: 4, July 2024